Method and apparatus for sorting coal.



1,198,808. Patentedsept. 19,1916.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING COAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1916.

H. ADAMS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING COAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY Il, 1916.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY ADAMS, 0F NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS MINING MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING- COAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

bustion with a minimum draft when reduc-- ing ores and the like or burning coal, it is desirable to maintain a. maximum amount of voids between the individual pieces of mineral, coal and the like. Furthermore, the larger pieces especially of anthracite coal are valuable commercially, and particularly adapted to produce the maximum voids between the individual pieces.

lVith the methods in use in the coal industry, the mass of coal is disposed on screens or bars placed at an inclination to the horizontal, in some of which methods, the screen is shaken and in some others the screen revolved. With these methods, it has been found, the coal having already been broken into the several grades, among others the egg, stove, chestnut, steam and barley grades, that the pieces on top of each other continually hit and rub against each other as well as the screen, in case of a shaking screen they also rub against the two sides of the same, and in case of a revolving screen, the pieces wearing against-each other and against the screen will also be subject to a grinding effect. This rubbing, hitting and knocking of the larger pieces against the smaller continues until the smaller pieces find their way down and out through the perforations of the screens. On account of the character of the coal the great degradation of the sizes, meaning the formation of more fine coal, results from this breaking and wearing away of these larger pieces, thereby causing a great loss invalue. Furthermore this rubbing, knocking and hitting of the pieces against each other causes the sharp faces of the sides of the pieces to be rounded off which materially decreases the number of voids between themv and makes it necessary to have more draft in order to get proper combustion when burning the sized coal.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby the aforesaid difliculties are materially overcome. and to provide an apparatus for carrying out such method.

y These and other 'capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of. one specific embodiment of the apparatus for carrying out the present method, which embodimentvis'illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a transverse section -on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. '5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 ofl Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail view .of the driving means taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail detached view of the several guiding arms of the device.

In the present embodiment, a rotary frame is provided having a plurality of radially extending arms, the pieces to be graded as coal or ore being fed to such arms at their common central junction, the rotary movement of the frame imparting a centrifugal force to the pieces carried by said arms and thereby feeding the same outward, and the armseach being provided with a plurality of'discharging portions in a graduating manner, the discharging portions for the final piecesbeing nearest the central common junction and the discharging portions for the coarser pieces being at the extreme outer ends of the arms.

The apparatus consists essentially of a suitable base 10 composed of concrete or the like at the center in which the main driving shaft A is pivotally mounted extending upward in a vertical direction. To the upper end of the shaft A there is formed a conical shaped receiving head H to which the radially extending guiding arms B are secured. The arms B are shown as provided with a plurality of parallel channels C, three in the present instance. The arms further more each essentially comprise four sections 11, 12, 13 and 14, the section 11 b eing the highest in altitude and communicating with the section 12 by the incline 15, thevsection 12 communicating with the section 13 which is a little lower than the section 12 by the incline 16, and the section 1-1 merely being a depressed concave continuation of section 13.

The channels C of the section 11 are closed at their bottoms by the i'loor members 17, and have upwardly extending side walls 18 inclined to the ioor members 17 and connected at their upper ends to adjacent side walls 18, the outer side walls 18 being provided with elongated upwardly extending flanges 19, About midway of the side walls and extending throughout their entire length are formed the ribs 20 and along their lower edges adjacent to the floor members 17 are formed the ribs 21.

The channels C of the sections 12 are Jformed similar to the channels of the sections 11 having side walls 18, ribs 20 and 21 of said side walls, the ribs 20 and 21 being the continuations of the ribs 20 and 21 of the side walls 18. The sections 12 however do not have floor members 17 and thereby permit passage therethrough. The sections 12 also have flanges 19 extending up.- ward from their outer side walls 18. Extending across the lower ends of the side walls 18 of each channel are formed the cross bars 22 which are suitably spaced apart substantially equal to' the distance of the lower ends of the side walls 18 of a channel from one another,

The channels C of the sections 13 preferably comprise short side walls 23, the upper ends of which are connected to the upper ends of adjacent side walls 23, and the outer side walls 23 of which channels are provided with flanges 24 extending upward therefrom. The side walls 23 are substantially equal in width to the vdistance from the ribs 20 to the upper ends of the side walls 18 of the sections 11, the side walls 23 being provided with ribs 25'along their lower edges which are the continuations of the ribs 20 of the side walls 18. The lower edges of the side walls 23 of each channel are connected to one another by the cross bars 26 which are suitably spaced from one another to permit passage therethrough.

The section 14: is merely an uninterrupted, depressed, concave shell member having an inclined discharging portion 27 on one side which is the rear side of an arm B, considering its direction of movement when the arms are rotated.

Disposed under the channels of the sections 12 are formed shaking screens 27 and disposed under thesections 13 are shaking screens 28. These shaking screens 27 and 28 are connected to one another by the parallelv linkage 29, the screens 28 also connected to the walls of the receivers 30hy links, the

linkage 29 being connected both to the walls of the receivers y30, and to the walls of Athe receivers 31 disposed below the screens Y rods 32 are guided in bearings 34 secured to the frame portions 35 extending from the receivers 31 to the braces 36 and are provided with rollers 37 at their lower ends which travel on the undulated annular cam track 38, by means of which the rods will receive a vertically reciprocating movement when the shaft A is rotated by which in turn through the linkage 33, 29 and link 31, the screens 27 and 28 will be reoiprocated hori- Zontally.

Extending downward from the arms B at substantially the point where the sections 13 and 14: connect with one another are the ribs 39 having rollers 40 at their lower ends to ride on the circular track 41' secured to the outer walls 42 of the receptacles for the intermediate grade of pieces to be sized, such walls 42 also forming partitions between the receptacles for the iinest grade of pieces and the aforesaidreceptacles for the intermediate grade of pieces. By means of these rollers 40 and track a1, the arms B will be additionally supported.

The pieces of mineral, coal and the like, as will appear from the foregoing, travel along the sections 11 until they arrive at the inclines 15 where the larger pieces may be turned and repositioned so that the smaller pieces that may have been riding on the topk of the large pieces are there permitted to properly position themselves. From the inclines 15, the pieces are conveyed along the sections 12 and those pieces disposed in the bottom of the channels on the floor member 17 of the sections 11 will fall down between the ribs 21 onto the sections 27 from where they will be discharged into the receivers 31, the' receivers 31 being carried by the arms B. The pieces remaining on the arms B in their further outward movement will then come to the inclines 16 where the large pieces may again be turned and repositione'd so vthat the small'pieces that may have been riding on top of such large pieces are there permitted again to properly position themselves. From the inclines 16 the pieces are conveyed along the sections 13 and those pieces being supported by the ribs 21 ofthe sections 12 will fall down between the ribs 25 onto the screens 28 from where they will be discharged into the receivers 30, the receivers 30 being carried by the arms B. The pieces still remaining on the arms B after reaching the sections 14 will temporarily collect at such sections 14.

Spac'ed from one another under and along the path of movement of the arms B are the fixed receptacles 413, 414 and 45. The outer' walls 46 of 'the receptacles 43 are spaced from the outer walls of the receivers 31, such outer walls of the receivers 31 being provided with openings to afford communication from them to such receptacles 43 while the inner walls 47 of the receptacles 43 have flanges 48 engaged by the lower ends of the receivers 31 when the receivers pass over such walls 47. Extending between the successive receptacles 43 and forming continuations 46 are the curved wall members 48 (Fig. l) which extend over the openings 49 of the receivers 31 and contact with such receivers 31 to close such openings 49 while the receivers 31 are passing from one receptacle 43 to the next. For convenience of discharge, the receivers 31 are provided with lateral extensions 50 formed on the rear sides of the arms B considering the direction of movement of such arms when rotated.

i Similarly to the receptacles 43, the receptacles 44 have inner side walls 51 provided with flanges 52 which engage the lower portions of the receivers 30 on which the receivers 30 ride when'passing the receptacles 44. The receptacles 44 also have outer walls 53 spaced from the outer walls of the receivers 30 and opposite to the openings 54 of the receivers 30. Extending between the receptacles 44 and forming continuations of the walls 53 are the curved wall members 55 which extend over the openings 54 when the receivers 30 pass along such wall members 55 and close such openings 54 while such receivers 30 are passing from one receptacle 44 to the next. Also similar to the receivers 31, the receivers 30 are pro-v vided with discharge extensions 56 disposed on the rear sides of the arms B considering the direction of movement of such arms when rotated.

The inner walls 57 of the receptacles 45 are disposed to permit the sections 14 to ride across them. The outer walls 58 of the receptacles 45 extend up beyond the flanges 59 which are the continuations of the flanges 24 and extend upwardly from the front sides of the sections 14 and the rear sides of the discharge members 27. The openings formed between the flanges 59 permit the discharge of the pieces from said sections 14 into the receptacles 45. Extending between the receptacles 45 and forming continuations of the outer walls 58 the curved wall members 60 are provided which extend up beyond the flanges 59 in contact with the ends of the arms B when the sections 15 pass from one receptacle 45 to the next, such wall members 60 closing the openings formed'at such ends of the sections 14 when the sections 14 travel from one receptacle 45 to the next.

For supplying minerals, ores, coal and the like to the head H any suitable form of hopper may be provided with its mouth M disposed n communication with the same, one

form being shown in which the hopper 61 (Fig. 1) is disposed directly above the head H with its mouth M in coperative relation thereto. For driving the shaft A, any suitable means may be provided, in the present instance, a worm wheel 62 being secured to the shaft A (Fig. 6) which is in mesh with a worm 63 formed on the shaft 64 of the motor 65.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the steps of the method as well as certain changes and modifications in the details of the embodiment presented herewith without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of grading coal consisting in imparting a centrifugal outward movement to the pile of coal to be graded, first disclnrging the nest pieces of the coal in its outward movement, and then discharging the next finer pieces in a graduated manner in the further outward movement of the coal, the discharge of the coarser pieces talring place at the end of the travel of the coal. 2. A method of grading coal consisting in imparting a centrifugal outward movement to the pile of coal to be graded, rst discharging the finest pieces of the coal in its outward movement, and then discharging the next finer pieces in a graduated manner in the further outward movement of the coal, the discharge of the coarser pieces taking place at the end of the travel of' the coal, and shaking the pieces of coal as they are discharged.

3. An apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, there being graduated discharge ports along said arms, the discharge ports for the finer elements being disposed near# est to the common central junction of the arms and the discharge ports for the coarser elements being disposed at the end of said arms.

4. An apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, there being graduated discharge ports along said arms, the discharge ports for the liner elements being disposed nearest to the common central junction of the arms and the discharge ports Jfor the coarser elements being disposed at the end of such arms, and reciprocating screens disposed in said discharge ports'f'or receiving the discharged elements.

5. An apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, there being graduated discharge p'orts along said arms, the discharge ports for the ner elements being disposed nearest 'to the common central junction of the arms ments.

6. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said trame, graduated supporting means, along said arms, the supporting means nearest the common central junction of the arms holding both the finest elements as well as the'coarsest, while the supporting means along the ends of the arms hold only the coarsest pieces, and discharging means communicating with said supporting means, whereby the unsupported elements may be discharged as they are fed outward from the common central junction.

7. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, graduated supported means, along said arms, the supporting means nearest the common central junction of the arms holding both the finest elements as well as the coarsest, while the supporting means along the ends of the arms hold only the coarsest pieces, and discharging means communicating with said supporting means, whereby the unsupported elements may be discharged as they are fed outward from the common central junction, an annular track near the outer ends of such arms, and rollers secured to such arms and traveling along said track whereby the arms are additionally supported.

8. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, graduated supporting means along said arms, the supporting means nearest the common central junction of the arms holding both the iinest elements as well as the coarsest, while the supporting means along the ends of the arms khold only the coarsest pieces, and discharging means communicating with said supporting means, whereby the unsupported elements may be discharged as they are fed outward from the common central junction, and shaking screens in op'erative relation to the discharging means to receive the discharged element therefrom, an annular undulated track, rollers disposed on said track, rods secured to said rollers and fixed lto said frame. link connections connecting said rollers with said screens so that said screens are horizontally reciprocated with the rotation of said frame.

9. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, graduated supportingvmeans along said arms, the supporting means nearest the common central junction of the arms holding both the iinest elements as well as the coarsest, while the supporting means along the ends of the arms hold only the coarsest pieces, and discharging mea-ns communicating with said supporting means, whereby the unsupported elements may be discharged as they are fed outward from the common central junction, and receptacles disposed in the path of movement ofsaid discharging means for receiving the pieces being discharged.

10. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from Said frame, graduated supporting means along said arms, the supporting means nearest the common central junction of the arms holding both the finest elements as well as the coarsest, while the supporting means along the ends of the arms hold only the coarsest pieces, and discharging means communicating with said `supporting means, whereby the unsupported elements may be discharged as they are fed outward from the common central junction, receivers carried by said arms and temporarily receiving the pieces as they are discharged from said arms, there being discharging openings in ,such receivers, receptacles disposed along the path of movement of said arms for re-y ceiving the pieces as they are discharged and curved walls extending between said receptacles, contacting said receivers and forming closures for said openings while the receivers are moved from one receptacle to the next.

l1. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, said arms having channels provided with side walls approaching one another in their downward direction, ribs along said side walls variously positioned to form graduated supporting means, the supporting means nearest the common central junction of the arms holding both the inest elements as well as the coarsest, while the supporting means near the ends ofthe arms hold only the coarsest elements, and `discharging means communicating with said supporting means, whereby the unsupported elements may be discharged as they are fed downward from the common central junction.

l2. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the likethe combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, said arms having channels comprising a plurality of sections, the sections nearest the common central junction each having inclined side walls, a Hoor member, the remaining sections having either their floor members or parts of the lower side,

walls removed in a graduated manner to -ing four sections, the section nearest the common central junction having inclined side walls, a floor member and ribs spaced from one another along said side walls for supporting variously graded elements, the next section having similarly inclined side walls and ribs, the ribs being continuations of the ribs of said rst section, but no ioor member, the rst section having inclined side walls with its lower portion removed as well as its floor members and its upper rib remaining, and the fourth section being a shell member forming a continuation of the upper rib of the third section.

14. In an apparatus :for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, said arms having channels comprising a plurality of sections, the sections nearest the common central junction each having inclined side walls, a floor member, the remaining sections having either their ioorv members or parts of the lower side walls removed in a graduated manner to form graduated supporting means, these supporting means nearest the common central junction of the arms holding both the Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing' the nest elements as well as the coarsest, while the supporting means near the ends of the arms hold only the coarser elements, and inclines formed between the sections whereby the graded elements are permitted to reposition themselves so that the small pieces that may be riding on top of the larger pieces may be properly positioned for discharge.

15. In an apparatus for grading minerals, ores, coal and the like, the combination with a rotary frame, arms extending from said frame, said arms having channels comprising four sections, the section nearest the common central junctionhaving inclined side walls, a oor member and ribs spaced from one another along said side walls for supporting variously graded elements, the next section having similarly inclined side walls and ribs, the ribs being continuations of the ribs of said first section, but no floor member, the first section having inclined side walls with its lower portion removed as well as its floor members and only its upper rib remaining, and the Jfourth section having a shell member forming a continuation of the upper rib of the third section, and inclines formed between the sections whereby the elements are permitted to reposition themselves so that the small pieces that may be riding on top of the larger pieces may be properly positioned for discharge.

HENRY ADAMS.

Witnesses:

GUsTAv Dnnws, I-I. D. PENNEY.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

